“The synagogue’s most ambitious initiative to date was the drive to build a community playground and recreation area that is already serving both the needy students of the Newton Street School and the community at large.” For almost 5 years, we worked with the school administration and teachers, parent organization and students, as well as the other stakeholders, to bring this project to fruition.

This initiative, which was a collaboration with the State of New Jersey and the “Green Acres” program of the Department of Environmental Protection, The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Seton Hall University, Newark Teachers Union, The Steve Strobert Foundation, Inc., The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Andy Cappon Community Action Project, Independence Community Bank Foundation, Conservation Resources, Inc., The Unitarian Universalist Congregation At Montclair and others, allowed our project to develop into a far-reaching, and ecumenical collaboration, and positioned us nicely to raise all the monies needed to make this dream a reality for the Newton Street School children and the surrounding community.

We are extremely grateful to all who believed in, funded and championed this project, and with them we shared the dedication of the playground, and all the joy that came with it, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, October 6, 2008.